Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 49

< Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Ethan started to step inside as the door opened, but Clara shifted, blocking his path.

Lila, in her arms, was sound asleep, her even breaths brushing Clara’s neck, warm and smelling faintly of milk.

“I only agreed to take him for one day.”

Clara’s voice was low, her gaze icy.”I didn’t say you could come in.”

Ethan froze, his gaze fixed on the tense line of her profile.

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The hall light cast faint shadows beneath her lashes. She held the child with one arm, her thumb unconsciously stroking the little girl’s back.

Just like she used to hold Lucas.

If only he could have another daughter with her…

Ethan pulled back his foot, then tapped his son’s head.

“Luke, go in. Be good.”

Lucas winced, secretly glancing at Ethan’s tight jawline, then reluctantly shuffled inside.

The entryway was small. He bumped into the shoe rack as he turned, making a loud thud. Startled, he instantly quieted, looking up at Ethan. Ethan didn’t seem to notice the little mishap. He just looked at Clara, about to say something more, but Clara cut him off.”This afternoon,” she said, “bring the necklace to get your son back.”

The words were barely out before the door slammed shut, practically brushing Ethan’s nose.

A bitter feeling welled up inside him. Ethan rubbed his fingers, heading for the elevator. Once in the parking lot, he got into his car and lit a cigarette.

Smoke billowed around him as he stared at the apartment building’s windows, the ash on his cigarette growing long. He pulled out his phone and dialed David’s number.

“Set up a meeting with Mr. Walker from Walker Venture Partners for me,” he said.”Tell him I’ve agreed to his previous terms.”

Inside, Lucas relaxed the moment Ethan was gone. He kicked off his shoes and stomped into the living room, eyes scanning the two-bedroom apartment. A look of disgust immediately twisted his face.

“This tiny? It’s not even as big as the bathroom at the mansion!”

He kicked the sofa leg.”This crappy couch, you’d get poked to death sitting on it, wouldn’t you?”

Clara ignored him, carrying Lila toward the bedroom. The little one in her arms stirred, her tiny brows furrowing, as if she’d been disturbed.

‘Shut up.”

Clara turned back, glaring at him coldly.”Cause any more trouble, and I’ll call your dad right now to come get you.”

Lucas’s lips immediately pouted. Seeing Clara gently patting Lila’s back, his eyes welled up instantly.

He stood there, fists clenched, tears brimming in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

“I’m going to bed.”

Clara didn’t even glance at him. She headed straight for the bedroom.”Go play, don’t make a sound. Instant ramen in the kitchen if you’re hungry. Fix it yourself.”

“You’re seriously making me eat instant ramen?”

Lucas’s voice shot up, full of indignant hurt.”You’re not making me breakfast? I want egg tarts!”

‘Don’t you usually love instant noodles?”

“When I don’t let you have them, you go tell your grandma I’m starving you.”

Clara’s voice drifted out from the bedroom, cool and casual.”Now you’ve got all the instant noodles you could want. And nobody’s gonna complain.”

The moment the door slammed shut, anger blazed in Lucas’s eyes. He kicked the sofa hard, only to hit the wooden frame. The pain made him double over, clutching his foot.

Tears finally streamed down his face, but he didn’t dare cry out loud. He just muffled his sobs with his hand.

Clara had pulled an all-nighter. The moment her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.

When she woke up again, the spot next to her was empty. Lila must’ve woken up and left the bedroom already. She’d barely sat up when Lucas’s ear-splitting wails hit her from the living room.

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The second she pushed open the door, Clara’s face utterly dropped.

The living room was a total disaster.

Crayon scribbles covered everything: walls, sofa, floor. Red, green, purple, like someone had just dumped a paint palette.

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Lila stood in the middle of the chaos, her pink teddy bear dress splattered with paint. The hem had a nasty scissor cut. The little girl’s eyes were red-rimmed; she bit her lip.

Lucas sat on the floor, screaming his head off. The second he saw Clara, he shoved Lila hard, then lunged to hug Clara’s leg.”Mom! She pushed me! Get her out of here! My butt hurts so bad!”

Lila stumbled back, nearly falling.

Clara quickly moved past Lucas, scooping the little girl into her arms. The second her hand touched Lila’s back, she felt her shaking.

“You can’t hold her!”

Seeing Clara ignore him, Lucas wailed even louder, clawing at her shirt.”You’re my mom! You can only hold me!”

“Shut up.”

Clara’s head throbbed from Lucas’s incessant yelling. She shot him a glare, then turned back to Lila.

“Lila, tell Auntie what happened?”

Lila stared at Clara’s hand as it gently rubbed her own fingers. After a long moment, she finally spoke:”I woke up and saw Auntie was still asleep, so I came out to draw.”

“He came over and snatched my crayon. He wouldn’t give it back and started drawing all over the place. I told him he couldn’t do that, but he said it was his mom’s house and he could draw wherever he wanted. And he…”

She sniffled, her voice tiny.”He even took scissors to my skirt, lifting it up! I only pushed him away because of that. I didn’t mean for him to fall, though.”

“Auntie, could you… not make me leave just yet? Can you call my dad first, so he can come get me?”

Her voice was tiny, fragile, and with every word, a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Auntie isn’t sending you away.”

Clara’s heart just melted. She wiped the little girl’s tears, soothing her.”Nobody’s going to make you leave.”

Lucas blew up at that.”Mom, she’s lying! She drew all of it! She’s a big fat liar!”

Clara’s expression darkened.

She looked down at Lucas, still throwing a tantrum on the floor. It hit her then how utterly spoiled he’d become over the years at the old house, thanks to Margaret.

“Lucas,”

Clara’s voice went ice cold.”Clean up this mess. Or I’m calling your dad right now to pick you up.”

Lucas choked on his sobs. Seeing Clara was serious, he finally got scared and slowly pulled himself up from the floor, still sniffling.

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Clara ignored him. She pulled one of her white jackets from the closet and put it on Lila, covering her dirty dress. “Let’s go get you a new dress.” Lila wrapped her arms around Clara’s neck, burying her face in Clara’s neck.”Thank you, Auntie,” she whispered.

Half an hour later, they were back at the apartment building, new dress in hand.

As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, Clara froze. Her apartment door had been jimmied open, hanging ajar. Faint yelling came from inside, and she saw the glint of a police uniform.

Her heart seized. Lucas was still in there. Clutching Lila close, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Margaret was on the couch, sobbing, Lucas clutched in her arms. The second she saw Clara, she sprang up, jabbing a finger right in Clara’s face. Clara, you heartless monster! How could anyone be so cruel?!”

‘Eth asked you to watch him, and you just DUMPED him home alone!”

“If

you didn’t want him, why even push Eth to bring him here? This is straight-up child abuse!”

‘Chris, what are you waiting for?! Arrest her! Lock her up! I’m suing her!”

“Aunt.”

Chris looked completely helpless. He turned to Clara.”Ms. Bennett, care to explain?”

Only then did Clara really see the cop standing there it was Chris. She’d had no idea he was a Carter, Margaret’s nephew, no less.

“I was only gone for thirty minutes. There are cameras everywhere. I was watching him the whole time. Nothing could happen.”

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< Chapter 49

“Bullshit!”

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Lucas immediately cranked up his voice, squirming in Margaret’s arms. “She locked me in this morning! She made me eat instant ramen! She even yelled at me! And she let that wild kid hit me!”

Clara frowned. When did Lucas get so good at making stuff up?

“No way!”

Lila instantly looked up, stepping protectively in front of Clara.”You’re the one who cut my dress! That’s why Auntie took me out…”

“Who the hell do you think you are? This isn’t your place to talk!” Margaret snapped, cutting her off.”Do you even have a mom? You have no

manners!”

Clara remembered what Ryan had told her – Lila’s mom died on the battlefield. She couldn’t hold it in anymore.

She stared coldly at Margaret.”Oh, so your precious grandson is the only one with manners, huh?”

“Cutting little girls’ dresses, lifting up their skirts – yeah, that’s truly well-behaved!”

Margaret’s face turned beet red. She swung her hand at Clara’s face. “I’m your mother-in-law! How dare you talk to me like that?”

“Stop!”

A large, strong hand with defined knuckles shot out from behind, clamping down hard on Margaret’s wrist.